Electric railway-switch.



D. W. JOHNSON.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1913.

1,191,554, Patented June 30,1914. 7

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COLUMBlA PLANOURAPH c0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

D: W. JOHNSON.

ELEGTRIG RAILWAY-SWITGH. AMI-lung}; FILED MAIR. 1, 15313.

1 Q 1,554 Patented June 30, 19M

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Damn. w- JoHNsoM mu tuna COLUMBIA PLANouRAPl-l co., WASHINGTON, D. c

D. W. JOHNSON.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1913.

1,101,554. Patented June 30,1914

4 SHEETSSHBET 3;

1). W. JOHNSON. ELEOTRIG RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 1, 1913.

Patented June 30,191

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DANIEL W. JOHNSON, SAGINAW WEST SIDE, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3t 1914..

Application filed March 1, 1913. Serial No. 751,633.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL W. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saginaw Vest Side, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railway-Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric railway switches and more particularly to an improvement on my former Patent, #1,051,S12, issued January 28th, 1918, and my object is to provide a device of this character which is controlled from the moving object on the rails.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a motor concealed below the surface of the ground at a point adjacent a frog in the length of the rails and a still further object resides in providing means carried by the moving object whereby to conduct the current tothe motor.

Still another object of the invention re sides in providing means for. automatically operating the switch upon the operation of the motor.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a device which is comparatively simple in construction and one which is positive in operation.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section of a car mounted on rails and showing the circuit making mechanism of my improved device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section therethrough as seen on line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal. section through the motor casing which is concealed below the ground. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section therethrough as seen on line k-fi, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the switch operating and reversing mechanism showing in diagram the electrical circuits. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the stop disks used in connection with the motor driven shaft. Fig. 7 is a section as seen on line 77, Fi 4:, looking down upon the switch operating and reversing mechanism. Fig. 8 is a side elevation partly in section of the depending arm carrying the shoe for completing the circuit. Fig. 9 is a vertical section therethrough. Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section through one of the improved bearings used in connection with the housing for the motor; and Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the switch showing the strip between the rails and disclosing in dotted lines the connection between the strip and one rail and the motor concealed below the ground.

In describing my invention, 1 shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which 1 indicates a car of the usual or any preferred type, movably mounted on the rails 2 and 3, and 1 indicates a movable switch in the line of the rails, to the operation of which my invention particularly refers. Mounted on the under face of the body of the car 1, forward of the front truck thereof, is a de pending casting 5, in which is slidably mounted the arm 6, the lower free end of the latter being provided with a shoe 7 which is adapted to contact at predetermined times with a strip l mounted between the rails adjacent the switch. Extending laterally from the arm 6, is an additional arm or projection 8 which has loose connection with a bell crank lever 9, and said bell crank lever is fulcrumed on an additional depending casting 10 disposed adjacent the casting 5. Pivotally connected with the upper free end of the upwardly extending arm of said bell crank lever 9, is a linking rod 11 which extends toward the free end of the car 1 and has pivotal connection with an operating lever 12, the latter being fulcrumed on the car and extending to a position thereon for operation by the driver or operator of the same. Through the medium of this lever, it will be appreciated that at the will of the operator of the car, said shoe 7 may be lowered for contact with the strip 4: between the rails 2 and 3 and this shoe is adapted to receive currentfrom the trolley (not shown).

Concealed beneath the ground, at a point immediately adjacent the switch a, is a wator-proof casing or housing 13, having a removable top 14 secured thereto, said top being provided with a pair of openings 15 therein, whereby entrance may be had to the parts contained in the casing without the removal of this top 14. Also secured over the top 14, is an additional cover 16, which aids condition. The housing or casing13 is provided, about centrally with a partition wall 17 and stationarily mounted in the bottom of one of the compartments therein formed,

is a motor 18 of the ordinary shunt wound type, said reversible motor having leadingtherefrom the wires 19 and20, which are adapted, through intermediate means, to connect with the aforesaid strip and one rail, for positive and negative connections, respectively. The motor 18 is provided with a sectional drive shaft 21, the sections of which are frictionally engaged with one another by means of the leather or fiber faced clamping members 22 and one of the sections of'said drive shaft is supported in a bearing 23 extending through the partition wall 17 above referred to. This bearing 17 is threaded at both ends thereof to receive the caps 24 in engagement with the same, said caps retaining a packing in position about the section of the drive shaft and the bearing is retained in position in the partition wall 17 by means of a nut 25 engaged with the threads of said bearing, said nut being adapted to contact with one face of the partition wall to cooperate with a shoulder 26 formed integral on the bearing 23. The other section of the drive shaft 21 ex tends through a bearing 27 mounted in the one end of the casing or housing 13, to extend therebeyond, said bearing 27 being designed identical to the last mentioned bearing 23, and that portion of the last mentioned section extending beyond the casing, has keyed or otherwise secured thereon, a worm screw 28. Engaged with this worm screw 28 is a nut 29, which has formed or otherwise carried on the upper end thereof a yoke like member 30 and extending through the arms of this member 30, is a bolt 31, the same having loosely engaged therewith an upwardly extending and additional arm 32. Encircling the bolt 31, between the arms of the yoke 30, and said arm 32, are the coil springs 33, and the upper end of said arm 32 is removably secured to a downwardly projecting portion of the movable switch arm 4. It will thus be seen that when the worm 28 is rotated, the nut will travel from one end thereof to the other and correspondingly move the switch arm 4 in the same direction and in order to limit the movement of the nut 29 on the worm 28, a pair of disk-like stops 34 are mounted on the projecting portion of the shaft 21, at opposite ends of the worm 28. These disk-like stops 34 are camlike in design, being each provided with a shoulder 35 and extending transversely through the upper portion of the nut 29, and removably mounted in the latter, is an arm 36, the free ends of which project some distance beyond the opposite faces of the nut to be engaged with the shoulders of said stops 34. It is obvious, therefore, that the movement of the nut on the worm will be limited in either direction with the engagement of the projecting por tions of the arm 36 with said shoulders on the disk-like stops.

Carried on the yoke-like member 30 is a rod or bar 37 which is slidably disposed through an additional bearing 38 in the last mentioned end of the casing 13. Said bearing 38, being identical to the bearings 23 and 27, and said bar, which cooperates with a reverse switch for the motor, is obviously adapted to be moved downwardly and forwardly, in accordance with the movement of the nut 29 on the worm 28. This rod or bar 37 has adjustably secured thereon, adjacent its free end, a pair of laterally extending arms 38 and 39, said arms being disposed immediately over the switch reversing mechanism mounted in the casing 13. switch reversing mechanism consists ofa fiber plate 40 mounted on one side wall of the casing or housing, the same having pivoted thereon, at the points 41 and 42 respectively, a pair of arms 43 and 44, the free ends of which are adapted to rest at various times in contact with the contact posts 45, 46 and 47. Pivotally secured to the arms 43 and 44, about midway of their ends, is a switch throwing arm 48 which is provided .about centrally with an upstanding projection 49, said projection being disposed be tween the laterally extending arms 38 and 39 on the rod 37 and said projection 49 is connected with these arms respectively by means of the coil springs 50 and 51. This switch throwing arm 48 is formed of fiber with metal ends and movable between a pair of magnets 52 and 53 also mounted on the plate 40, adjacent the opposite ends of the same and when the switch arm 48 is in contact with one of said magnets, and the motor is started, the device is so arranged that the nut on the worm 28 and the rod 37 also move in a direction opposed to that in which the arm 48 is disposed. hen said arm 48 is attracted to the opposite magnet, however, the motor will operate reversely, thereby reversing the movement of the aforesaid nut and rod and correspondingly reversing the movable switch arm 4, connected indirectly therewith.

Leading from the rail 2 and the contact strip 4, at points adjacent the movable switch'arm 4, are the tubes or wire casings 54 in which are incased the wires 55 and 56 respectively, the former leading through a field 55 of the motor 18 to the pivot point 41, while the latter leads through a resistance coil 56 to the adjacent pivot point 42. These casings or tubings 54, as may be seen from Fig. 3 of the drawings,

This Y lead through the one end wall of the easing or housing 13 and the wire 55, is connected with the magnet 52 through the medium of a connecting wire 57, while the wire 56 is connected to the opposite magnet 53 through the medium of a wire connection 58. These two magnets, however, are connected together through the medium of the wire'connection 59 and the aforesaid wires 19 and 20 which lead from the brushes of the motor 18, respectively engage the contact posts 46 and 45. The contact post 47 connects through the medium of a short wire connection 60 to the wire 20 leading from the one brush of the motor to the contact post 45.

As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the arms 43 and 44 are disposed in contact respectively with the contact posts 46 and 47 and when the circuit is completed and the arms disposed are in this position, the current passes from the trolley (not shown) to the shoe 7 from where it is conducted to the strip 4. From this strip, the current passes through the wire 56 and through the resistance 56 to the point 42 and from this point, through the arm 44 to post 47. From the post 47, the current is conducted through the wire 60 to the wire 20 and from the latter to the armature of the motor 18. After passing through the armature of the motor, the current is then conducted through the wire 19 to the point 46 from where it is conducted through the medium of the arm 43 to the point 41. From the latter point, it is conducted through the field 55 of the motor 18 and through the wire 55 to the rail 2 where it is grounded. The magnets 52 and 53 being connected respectively to the wires 55 and 56, and also connected to one another will, of course, be energized at the same time the circuit is completed. When the arms 48 and 44 are disposed to the left, that is, in respective contact with the posts 45 and 46, thereby eliminating the use of the post 47, the current will. travel from the post 46 to the ground in a direction reverse to that described above, it being understood that the motor is of the ordinary shunt-wound type and that the current passes through the field 55 thereof in the same direction at all times. This path of the current can be readily determined and a tracing of this circuit will not be made.

As stated, the depending arm and shoe 6 and 7 respectively, carried on the car body 1, have connection with the trolley circuit and when lowered, said shoe will contact with the strip 4 to complete the circuit, and conduct the current to the motor, thereby causing the latter to be operated. The operation of the motor will, obviously, cause the sectional drive shaft 21 to be rotated, thereby rotating the worm screw 28 and cause the nut on the latter to travel one way or the other, as the case may be. It must here be stated that as the motor is energized, the magnets 52 and 53 will be simultaneously energized and the switch throwing arm 48 will be attracted to the magnet in the field to which said arm is disposed at the time said magnets are energized. For example, it will be presumed that the arm is drawn to the magnet 58, upon the energizing of the motor and in such an instance, the arrangement of the mechanism is such that the nut 29 on the worm screw 28 will travel in the direction toward the magnet 52. The rod or bar 37, traveling likewise in that direction and the switch throwing arm 48 remaining in contact with the magnet 58 will, of course, cause the spring 50 which connects the arm 38 with the projection 49, to be expanded and upon the releasing of the shoes 7 from their engagement with the rails, which may be accomplished by the operator of the moving car to disengage the current, the motor will discontinue its rotation and the magnets will be deenergized. The tension of the spring 50 upon the breaking of the circuit will cause the arm 48 to be drawn in the opposite magnetic field and when the motor is again energized by a second car passing over the rails at the switch point, said arm 48 will be attracted to the opposite magnet 52 which will cause the motor 18 to be operated in a reverse di rection. The movable switch arm or point 4, will, therefore, be directed to the opposite position from that in which it was thrown by the previously passing car, and in this manner, it will be seen that every other passing car may be switched in the same direction, which is the usual manner in which the traction companies operate their cars. It will, of course, be understood, however, that this switch may be readily operated so that cars following one another may be switched in the same direction.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple, inexpensive and eflicient means for carrying out the objects of the invention and while I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is 1. The combination with a pair of rails having a switch in the length thereof, a motor concealed below the rails adjacent said switch, a drive shaft for the motor, means to support the same, the free end of said drive shaft being provided with a worm screw, a nut in engagement with said worm, a yoke member carried on the upper face of said nut and projecting upwardly therefrom, a bolt extending through the arms of said yoke member, an arm loosely applied on said bolt and rigidly connected with the movable arm of the switch, a pair of coil springs encircling the bolt between the last mentioned arm and the arms of said yoke, a pin disposed through the upper portion of said nut and projecting on opposite sides thereof, and a pair of cam-like stop disks secured to said drive shaft at opposite ends of said worm screw, said disks being each provided with a shoulder adapted for engagement by the projecting end of the pin on said nut to limit the movement of the latter on said worm; of means to conduct an electric current to said motor;

2. The combination with a pair of rails having a switch in the line thereof, a motor concealed below the rails adjacent the switch, a drive shaft for the motor, means to support the same, the free end of said drive shaft being provided with a worm screw, a nut in engagement with said worm, means connecting said nut with the movable arm of the switch, a pin extending longitudinally through said nut and projecting beyond the faces thereof, and a pair of camlike stop disks secured to said drive shaft at opposite ends of said worm screw, said disks being each provided with a shoulder adapted for engagement by the projecting end of the pin on said nut to limit the movement of the latter on the same; of means to conduct an electric current to said mOtOr.

8. The combination with a pair of rails having a switch in the length thereof, a motor concealed below the rails adjacent said switch, a drive shaft for the motor provided with a worm screw on the free end thereof, means to support said drive shaft, a nut i engagement with said worm, and connecting means between said nut and the movable arm of the switch; of means to conduct a current to said motor, a pair of magnets adapted to be energized upon the energizing of the motor, an electric switch arm for the motor disposed between said magnets, a rod indirectly connected with said nut and movable with the latter, a pair of laterally eX- tending arms adjustably mounted on said rod and disposed between said magnets adj acent said electric switch arm, and a pair of coil spring members engaged respectively with said pair of arms on the rod and also engaged with an intermediate portion of said electric switch arm.

4:. The combination with a pair of rails having a switch in the length thereof, a motor concealed below the rails adjacent said switch, a drive shaft for the motor provided with a worm screw on the free end thereof,

'erally extending 'means to support said drive shaft, a nut-in engagement with said worm, and connecting means between said nut and the movable arm of the switch; of means to conduct a current to said motor, a pair of magnets adapted to be energized upon the energizing of the motor, an electric switch throwing arm disposed between said magnets and adapted to be attracted to the latter upon the energizing thereof, said switch throwing arm being provided with a central and latlug, a rod indirectly connected with said nut and movable therewith, a pair of laterally extending arms adjustably carried on said rod and disposed on opposite sides of the central lug of said switch throwing arm, and a pair of coil springs respectively engaged with the pair of laterally extending arms on said rod, and also engaged with said central lug of the switch throwing arm.

5. The combination with a pair of rails having a switch in the length thereof, a housing concealed below the rails adjacent said switch, a motor mounted in said housing, a drive shaft for the motor rotatably supported in the walls of said housing and projected on the one end thereof, a worm screw carried on the pro ected end of sald drive shaft, a nut in engagement with said worm, and connecting means between said nut and movable arm of the switch; of means to conduct a current to said motor, apair of magnets mounted in said housing and adapted to be energized upon the energizing of the motor, an electric switch throwing arm disposed between said magnets adapted to be attracted by the latter upon the energizing thereof, a rod indirectly connected with said nut and slidably mounted in the one end wall of said housing, said rod being movable with said nut and having 1ts inner free end disposed 1mmediately adjacent said magnets, a central laterally extending projection carried on said switch throwlng arm, a palr of laterally extending and spaced arms adjustably carried on said rod and disposed on opposite sides of the central projection of the switch throwing arm, and a pair of coil sprlngs havin their outer ends en aged res ectivel h b K r with the pair of arms on said rods, the inner ends of said coil springs being engaged with the central projection of the switch throwing arm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL w. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

L. L. PEARso A. F. DAVEST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. G.

Commissioner of Patents, 

